6 Scary Foods You Didn’t Know You Were Eating

Yesterday Papa John went on our annual haunted ride. It was the perfect weather for it. Dusky and starting to rain. We take a ride through this creepy neighborhood and make up stories of zombies and camp Crystal lake.

We managed to make it out alive just in time to visit Blood Cemetery before it started to rain.

And in the spirit of all Hallows Eve, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some ghoulish eats to gross you out. I hope you aren’t eating while reading today’s post. Especially if it’s one of these foods. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Here’s 6 scary foods you didn’t know you were eating, that goes to show how eating ingredients you don’t recognize is a bad idea in more ways than one.

Beetle Shells

Beetle Juice. Beetle Juice. Beetle…Shells?

YES.

It’s commonly seen as “confectioners glaze” or carmine, but all in all it is crushed up shells of desert beetles as red food coloring in fruit juices and candies. While it might not be bad for you, I at least like to have the choice to eat beetles or not.

Rodent Hair

Not only are rats eating our food. They’re IN our food! Does that make them cannibals?

What the FDA calls “unavoidable deficits”, rodent hair is allowed in certain amounts in foods. 1 hair in every 100 grams of chocolate or 22 grams of cinnamon, and 5 in every 18 ounces of peanut butter.

Not the peanut butter!! I just about died on that one. Another reason to know your supplier. I can assure you Vermont Peanut Butter does not have rodent hair as one of their “secret ingredients”. I will volunteer to be on the Quality Control board any day…

Beaver Anal Glands

Leave it to beaver. Castoreum or the secretions from beaver anal glands is often used for those “natural flavorings” of strawberry, raspberry, and vanilla in candies, gelatin, and pudding. Yeah. Beaver squirts. Who is the genius who thought of this?! I really don’t want to know how this was discovered…

Flame Retardant

If you needed another reason to do away with the dew, here’s one more to add to the list. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO), a common ingredient in citrus sodas also appear in flame retardants. I guess maybe if you’re a flame swallower this might come in handy. Don’t try it at home kids.

Ammonia

BRAINS!! I mean…ground beef. And processed cheese. Even cookies. All can be found with ammonia. A whooping 70% of ground beef found in the grocery store contains ammonia in the form of the pink slime that’s been floating around the news for a bit. If you’re gunna eat meat, please splurge on the grass-fed/organic variety. Or if looking at that picture alone makes you gag like me, forgo it altogether.

Maggots

You still with me? Last one I promise, but it’s the worst in my opinion. Just like the rat hair, the FDA allows a certain amount of MAGGOTS and MITES in canned mushrooms. 19 maggots and 74 mites to be exact. Which reminds me of that summer Hillary and I found a maggot filled burger left on the grill..

And the reason I refuse to eat canned mushrooms. Fresh is better in this case.

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This eye-opening post was on behalf of my partnership with the Vermont Peanut Butter Company for an edition of my VTPBlog.

Make it a great day!

Which of these foods grossed you out the most?

What’s one food you hate? The only foods I hate (besides meat) are olives and sundried tomatoes.

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Hi there! I’m Emily, a registered dietitian, food lover, and peanut butter enthusiast. I’m here to show you that eating & living healthy doesn’t have to be boring, expensive, or difficult. I share my passion for cooking with quick & healthy recipes made with simple and affordable ingredients. Learn more!